Page 99 of Fighting For Light
I explain what the doctor said, and he nods, pacing back and forth.
“Well, it’s good we’re in the off-season now. Did they mention healing time?”
“Yeah, I can’t jump until the rib is healed, which can take months, and the hip fracture will take a little while. I need to let the bruising heal, and then I will have to get another X-ray in about three weeks.”
He stops by Cordi’s bed and rubs her shoulder.
“Did the doctors come back about what happened?” I ask.
Cordi shakes her head. “They said they needed to finish the blood tests, and then they will do a physical exam.”
I nod, and she stares at me with teary eyes. Reece seems to catch on.
“I’m going to go grab a cup of coffee. Do you need anything?” he asks us. I shake my head, and Cordi does the same, her eyes still locked on me. He slips out of the room, closing the door quietly behind him.
I slowly stand and step closer to her bed. I want to crawl in with her, but it’s probably not a good idea for her to shift around too much, so I lean over and pull her into my arms. She bursts into tears, and I hold her tightly, wishing there was something I could do. Her sobs wrench my heart from my chest, making my eyes burn. “It’s going to be okay. Everything is going to be fine. This little guy is a fighter. Whatever it is, it will be okay.”
“You don’t know that,” she mutters as she takes a shaky breath. There’s a knock at the door, and a doctor walks in before I can respond. Cordi sits up, and I grab her hand to sit on the edge of the bed.
“Hi, Mom and Dad. So, let’s take a deep breath. Everything is okay. You didn’t have a placental rupturing or start labor, either. I don’t mean to be crass, but you peed yourself. The pains you were having aren’t totally normal, but I’ve seen it in a lot of first-time moms because they are muscular. The baby likely hit your bladder. A lot is happening in your body as the baby grows and changes. Sometimes, it’s going to feel uncomfortable. That being said, the bloodwork came back totally clean. However, you were dehydrated, so that’s why we have you on an IV drip. You need to focus on sleep and proper nutrition. I want to do a physical exam before you go, but I’m prescribing you bedrest for a couple weeks, and you should be good to go. I’ll grab the nurse to do an ultrasound, too.”
“Thank you,” I tell the doctor. She nods and leaves the room. Cordelia bursts into tears again, and I pull her back in a hug. “See, gem? Everything is going to be fine. We just need to feed you better and get you more water. That’s an easy fix.”
“You make me sound like a farm animal,” she says between tears. I pin my lips together, trying not to laugh, but then she smiles and starts laughing, which only makes me laugh. The weight we’ve been carrying around for a few days lifts, and I’m grateful.
“I mean, you do produce milk,” I quip. She gasps and slaps me on the chest. “Ow, gem!” I grumble though she didn’t hit me anywhere close to my ribs.
She gasps, and her eyes widen. “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry, oh my gosh,” she says as tears well in her eyes.
I grab her, shaking my head. “Hey, hey, I’m joking. You didn’t hurt me. It’s okay, babe.”
“You’re an ass,” she grumbles.
“But you love me,” I mumble into her hair. She tilts her head back, searching my eyes.
“I really do,” she rasps. “I’m sorry, Kai, I’m sorry about the other night. I’m sorry I was questioning everything. I knew something was wrong when you kept going after your last jump. I could feel it. I thought I might lose you and—“
“It’s okay, gem. Bruised, but not broken. Everything is going to be alright,” I sigh and hug her again.
“Thank God,” she says into my chest. I hum and rub her back as the nurse and Reece return. We explain what the doctor says, and Reece sighs with relief. “Um, Dad? Sorry, can you leave again? They have to…”
“Oh yeah, sure. I’ll be right outside,” he mutters and hurries back out the door.
“I don’t know if me or Dad is more nervous for this baby. I think you’re the only one who isn’t.”
I chuckle and shake my head. “I don’t know about that. I mean, you’re the one who has to do the hard work. I’m your cheerleader, and that requires minimal practice on my part.”
“Alrighty, let’s get this done and get you out of here,” the nurse says. Cordelia nods, and they get her feet up so the nurse can check something in there. Then they do the ultrasound, and I swear my heart threatens to explode when I hear that quick pounding sound.
“Everything looks good. He’s going to be a big boy,” she says. I stare at the screen, tilting my head and asking how they know. “We measure his size from here to here,” she points to the screen. I still don’t see it, but I feel stupid asking questions.
I stare at the screen seeing the small spot on the screen flutter with his heartbeat, and my chest gets tight.
“Kai?” Cordi says.
I lean over and kiss her cheek.
“I can’t wait to meet him,” I rasp.
